Building the Future of Human Spaceflight Beyond Earth

NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) provides a critical heavy-lift capability built to rigorous human-rated safety standards to carry people and cargo back to the moon – this time to stay – and on to Mars.

SLS will launch larger payloads farther in our solar system, faster than ever before possible. It will be the most powerful rocket ever built, enabling diverse exploration, science and security missions. SLS is also the world’s only super heavy rocket capable of safely transporting astronauts to deep space with major payloads like landers, habitats and Gateway elements.

Boeing is the prime contractor for the design, development, test and production of the launch vehicle core stage, as well as development of the flight avionics suite.

Core Stage 101

Missions

The first test flight, Artemis I, will carry an uncrewed Orion space capsule to the moon to test the performance of the integrated system. SLS also will carry 13 small satellites, each about the size of a shoebox, that will be deployed in deep space.

Additional missions are planned with this configuration as the even more powerful Block 1B version of the rocket is designed and built. This follow-on, evolved two-stage configuration will provide a lift capability of more than 105 metric tons, using the Boeing-built Exploration Upper Stage. Boeing has delivered flight hardware for the first Artemis mission and is producing flight hardware for both the second and third missions.

Videos

Feature Stories

Boeing and NASA Space Launch System teams have completed a rigorous avionics review so the program will be prepared to resume testing of the first SLS core stage when NASA reopens Stennis Space Center.

At Michoud Assembly Facility, all elements of the SLS core stage for the crewed Artemis II lunar mission have been welded and built, and the third core stage was being fabricated before a suspension of operations in response to COVID-19.

Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne technicians are installing the four powerful RS-25 engines modified for the Space Launch System at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, while ramping up to support the full core stage hot fire testing at Stennis Space Center next year.

Innovation is built into the Space Launch System from the ground up, as technicians and engineers work together to improve the rocket by incorporating ideas from the shop floor into future design and build plans, making each rocket core stage come together faster, and more efficiently.

As Boeing prepares for final element join on the first Space Launch System core stage, the second core stage of the advanced launch system is underway, and the design of a powerful Exploration Upper Stage is taking shape.

NASA is setting its eyes on the exploration of Mars, an over two year-long journey that will make history. Today's children will be the first explorers of our neighboring planet with help from Boeing technology to discover ground humans humans have yet to see.

Space Launch System Gallery

Space Launch System Customer

NASA is Boeing's customer for the Space Launch System, the largest rocket ever built, which will take humans and crew well beyond low-Earth orbit and into deep space.

The Boeing SLS Program is managed out of the company’s Space and Launch division in Huntsville, Ala., and employs Boeing’s workforce in Huntsville, at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and at other Boeing sites and with suppliers across the country. The Boeing Exploration Launch Systems office supports NASA on strategy and policy for Space Exploration programs procured by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Technical Specifications

Stage

Core Stage

Block 1 Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

Block 1B Exploration Upper Stage

Length

212 ft (64.6 m)

38.0 ft (11.58 m)

57.6 ft (11.5 m)

Diameter

27.6 ft (8.4 m)

16.4 ft (5.0 m)

27.6 ft (8.4 m)

Propellant Weight

2,175,423 lbs

63,206 lbs

278,000 lbs

Empty Weight

188,000 lbs

7,700 lbs

33,156 lbs

Material

Aluminum 2219

Aluminum

Aluminum

Engines

4 RS-25

1 RL 10-C1

4 RL-10

Thrust per Engine

512,000 lbf

24,854 lbf

24,340 lbf

Total Thrust at Max Power

2.2 million lbf (1.09%)

24,854 lbf (1.00%)

97,360 lbf (1.00%)

Fuel

Liquid Hydrogen

Liquid Hydrogen

Liquid Hydrogen

Oxidizer

Liquid Oxygen

Liquid Oxygen

Liquid Oxygen

Space Launch System Quick Facts

Designed to be flexible and evolvable for crew or cargo missions

Safe, affordable and sustainable to advance America’s exploration of space